DATE=9/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238221
TITLE=LIBYA/LOCKERBIE (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI SAYS CERTAIN GUARANTEES
WILL BE NECESSARY BEFORE LIBYA WILL ALLOW THE EXTRADITION OF TWO
LIBYAN SUSPECTS FOR TRIAL IN THE BOMBING OF A PAN-AM PASSENGER
JET 10-YEARS AGO OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND. THE LIBYAN LEADER
ANNOUNCED THE CONDITIONS IN RESPONSE TO A RECENT OFFER BY THE U-S
AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS TO TRANSFER THE SUSPECTS TO A THIRD,
NEUTRAL COUNTRY FOR TRIAL, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT SCOTT
BOBB IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.
TEXT: LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI SAYS HE WANTS GUARANTEES THE
NETHERLANDS, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED NEUTRAL SITE FOR THE TRIAL,
WILL BE THE LAST STOP FOR THE LIBYAN SUSPECTS, WHETHER THEY ARE
CONVICTED OR ACQUITTED.
COLONEL GADHAFI SAID HE BELIEVES THE BRITISH AND U-S GOVERNMENTS
WANT TO USE THE NETHERLANDS, IN HIS WORDS, AS A BRIDGE, IN ORDER
TO TAKE THE SUSPECTS TO BRITAIN. HE SAID LIBYA DOES NOT ACCEPT
THE BRITISH/U-S AGREEMENT ON HOLDING THE TRIAL IN THE NETHERLANDS
OR THE U-N SECURITY-COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT ENDORSES IT.
THE U-N RESOLUTION, PASSED LAST MONTH, CALLS FOR LIFTING
INTERNATIONAL TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA IF THE SUSPECTS ARE
SENT TO THE NETHERLANDS FOR TRIAL. IT FOLLOWED THE ANNOUNCEMENT
BY THE U-S AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS THEY ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT A
TRIAL OF THE SUSPECTS IN THE NETHERLANDS USING SCOTTISH LAW AND A
SCOTTISH JUDGE.
THE PROPOSAL WAS BILLED AS A COMPROMISE AIMED AT ENDING THE
LONG-DELAYED EFFORTS TO BRING JUSTICE AND CLOSURE TO THE ATTACK.
THE PAN-AM JUMBO JET CRASHED, KILLING 270 PEOPLE, 10YEARS AGO,
NEAR LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND. A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION REVEALED A
BOMB HAD EXPLODED ON BOARD AND IDENTIFIED TWO LIBYAN CITIZENS AS
THE SUSPECTED BOMBERS. THE SUSPECTS, BASSET ALI AL-MEGRAHI AND
AL-AMIN KHALIFA FHAMIA, TOOK REFUGE IN LIBYA.
LIBYA REFUSED TO HAND OVER THE TWO SUSPECTS, SAYING IT FEARED
THEY WOULD NOT RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL. THE REFUSAL LED TO
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN IN FORCE SINCE 1992. THE
SANCTIONS INCLUDE A BAN ON AIR TRAVEL TO AND FROM LIBYA, A BAN ON
WEAPONS SALES TO LIBYA AND LIMITS ON PURCHASES OF LIBYAN OIL.
/// REST OPT ///
THE DEMAND BY COLONEL GADHAFI FOR GUARANTEES IS LIKELY TO
CONTINUE THE STANDOFF OVER THE LOCKERBIE TRIAL. THE BRITISH AND
U-S GOVERNMENTS OFFERED THE COMPROMISE SAYING IT SHOULD BE
ACCEPTED WITHOUT CONDITIONS.
COLONEL GADHAFI MADE THE REMARKS IN A SPEECH IN TRIPOLI MARKING
THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUP THAT BROUGHT HIM TO POWER. FIVE
AFRICAN HEADS-OF-STATE ATTENDED THE CEREMONIES, AFTER FLYING TO
TRIPOLI IN VIOLATION OF THE BAN ON AIR TRAVEL TO LIBYA. AT ITS
SUMMIT LAST JUNE, THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY VOTED TO
ALLOW AIR LINKS BETWEEN LIBYA AND O-A-U MEMBERS FOR RELIGIOUS AND
REGIONAL DIPLOMATIC PURPOSES.
COLONEL GADHAFI PRAISED THE LEADERS FROM CHAD, MALI, NIGER,
SUDAN, AND CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC FOR BREAKING THE SANCTIONS.
HE URGED LIBYANS TO LOOK TO AFRICA AND SAID HE WOULD PROPOSE WHAT
HE CALLED A NEW CONCEPT OF AFRICAN UNITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
CHARTER OF THE O-A-U. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/DW/RAE
06-Sep-98 10:48 AM EDT (1448 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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